May 24, 2022
Hello church family and friends near and far,
As I sit to write this letter, news is reaching us of a terrible shooting at Robb Elementary School in Udvale, Texas. The details are changing, as they do in times of crisis, but as of this moment 18 families have lost sweet little ones, a teacher, a grandmother, and a broken young man. The ripples of pain and shock, anger and sorrow are moving in waves through the Udvale community – smaller than Fallon – and out from there across the nation and beyond. People who have been through this before, at Sandy Hook and elsewhere, are reaching out in comfort and solidarity.
I don’t want to write about this.
Not again.
Over and over. So many times.
I mentioned Fr. Gregory Doyle in worship the other day, who is so well-known for his work with current and former gang members in East L.A. He says that he has seen over 200 young people killed in his 30 years in ministry there. In many of those situations, he knew and loved both the victim and the perpetrator. He has some interesting things to say about the role of prayer in the face of violence like this. He says prayer is for us, and our relationship with God. That we should pray constantly, seek God in every moment, and approach God with honesty and vulnerability. It gives us internal strength, keeps our eyes and ears and minds clear, keeps our hearts soft rather than hardened and cold. When it comes to things in the world that need correcting, though, he says that at some point we need to get up off our knees and act. We need to do something about the despair. We need to do something about the guns. We need to do something about the “lethal absence of hope.”
He once thought the solution to a lot of that was work. Gang members told him, we need jobs. So he created some, and that was good. That still is good. But it didn’t solve the despair, didn’t solve the violence, didn’t break the cycle. So in addition to the work, he provided love. “An irresistible culture of tenderness, where people kind of hold each other.” Young men and women find physical, emotional, and spiritual sanctuary in that holy place…and “if they surrender to it, then they become the sanctuary that they sought there.” And THAT breaks the cycle.
Politicians will argue about guns, in a maddeningly repetitive way. They will point fingers, and cast blame, and draw attention to themselves. Some will mean what they say, earnestly. Some will lean on their faith, draw from a deep well of love and clarity, and will try to make changes that will work. And maybe this time, enough people will agree on a solution to give something – anything – a try. Maybe. But we probably shouldn’t hold our breath.
In the meantime, we can build a sanctuary.
An irresistible culture of tenderness, where people are held with mercy and understanding, and deep needs of body and soul are met, and despair gives way to belovedness and worth and hope. And weapons don’t matter anymore, because no one wants them.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:14-17
Pastor Dawn
Worship Any and Everywhere!
FREAKING OUT, Part 6: Victorious.
This week ends our worship series on fear. Even with the news of horrible violence, yet again -- especially now -- we pray that you are finding comfort in the everlasting arms of God. As we have explored the topic of fear and God-given courage this season, we pray that your time in worship and prayer has infused you with new strength and courage. We pray that you are more able and ready to forgive yourself, and others. We pray that the chaos of this world retreats just a bit in the face of the light and love and power of the living God. This week we will hear together one of the best and most powerful passages in scripture, that inspires us to courage when we most need it: Romans 8, the whole thing but especially 8:18-39. 2 Timothy 1:7, too. We will share God's deep well of comfort together, too.
If you’re worshiping with us on Facebook or on the radio, we are so glad! If we can be in prayer for you in any way, please call the church at 775-423-4714, or call Pastor Dawn directly at 775-671-5553.
